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“End of the world, end of the month, same struggle”: On depoliticized transitions and emancipatory sustainability transformations - A case study of The French Citizens’ Convention on Climate

Denz, Robin LU (2021) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20211
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Reflecting an emerging trend in democratic innovation to tackle complex socio-ecological challenges, the French Citizens’ Convention on Climate (CCC) was initiated in response to climate protests and the Yellow Vests movement to define measures for achieving a socially just 40% reduction in GHG-emissions. Approaching the CCC as both an outcome and site of hegemonic struggle, I apply social movements theory and document analysis methods to investigate its genealogy, policy proposals, influence on decision-making, and evaluate its potential for sustainability transformations. My findings show that while the CCC produced an ambitious set of measures, only a small fraction was transposed into legislation after systematic unraveling by... (More)
Reflecting an emerging trend in democratic innovation to tackle complex socio-ecological challenges, the French Citizens’ Convention on Climate (CCC) was initiated in response to climate protests and the Yellow Vests movement to define measures for achieving a socially just 40% reduction in GHG-emissions. Approaching the CCC as both an outcome and site of hegemonic struggle, I apply social movements theory and document analysis methods to investigate its genealogy, policy proposals, influence on decision-making, and evaluate its potential for sustainability transformations. My findings show that while the CCC produced an ambitious set of measures, only a small fraction was transposed into legislation after systematic unraveling by powerholders. Whether similar citizens’ assemblies can have transformative rather than system-reinforcing effects will largely depend on the degree of binding power they are endowed with, and the capacity of social movements to win significant concessions and leverage their positive social outcomes to build counter-hegemonic power. (Less)
Abstract (French)
La Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat (CCC) a été initiée en réponse aux mobilisations pour le climat et celles des Gilets jaunes afin de définir des mesures permettant d’atteindre une baisse d’au moins 40% des émissions de GES dans un esprit de justice sociale. Elle reflète l’émergence d’une nouvelle tendance à l'innovation démocratique pour faire face aux complexes défis socio-environnementaux. Dans ce mémoire, j’aborde la CCC comme résultat et champ de bataille d’une lutte hégémonique. J’étudie sa généalogie, ses mesures et son degré d’influence politique afin d’en évaluer le potentiel de transformation sociale et écologique. Alors que les membres de la CCC sont parvenus à produire un ensemble de mesures ambitieuses, seule une fraction... (More)
La Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat (CCC) a été initiée en réponse aux mobilisations pour le climat et celles des Gilets jaunes afin de définir des mesures permettant d’atteindre une baisse d’au moins 40% des émissions de GES dans un esprit de justice sociale. Elle reflète l’émergence d’une nouvelle tendance à l'innovation démocratique pour faire face aux complexes défis socio-environnementaux. Dans ce mémoire, j’aborde la CCC comme résultat et champ de bataille d’une lutte hégémonique. J’étudie sa généalogie, ses mesures et son degré d’influence politique afin d’en évaluer le potentiel de transformation sociale et écologique. Alors que les membres de la CCC sont parvenus à produire un ensemble de mesures ambitieuses, seule une fraction a été reprise sans filtre à la suite d'un détricotage systématique par l’exécutif et sa majorité. Le potentiel transformateur d’assemblées citoyennes similaires dépendra du degré de pouvoir juridiquement contraignant dont elles seront dotées, ainsi que de la capacité des mouvements sociaux de tirer parti de celles-là pour obtenir des concessions et contribuer à la construction d’un bloc contre-hégémonique. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Denz, Robin LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
"Fin du monde, fin du mois, même combat" : la Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat entre transition dépolitisée et transformation émancipatrice
course
MESM02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Citizens' Assembly, Social Movements, Degrowth, Sustainability Science, Democratic Innovation
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:020
language
English
id
9047776
date added to LUP
2021-06-02 07:51:28
date last changed
2021-06-02 07:51:28
@misc{9047776,
  abstract     = {{Reflecting an emerging trend in democratic innovation to tackle complex socio-ecological challenges, the French Citizens’ Convention on Climate (CCC) was initiated in response to climate protests and the Yellow Vests movement to define measures for achieving a socially just 40% reduction in GHG-emissions. Approaching the CCC as both an outcome and site of hegemonic struggle, I apply social movements theory and document analysis methods to investigate its genealogy, policy proposals, influence on decision-making, and evaluate its potential for sustainability transformations. My findings show that while the CCC produced an ambitious set of measures, only a small fraction was transposed into legislation after systematic unraveling by powerholders. Whether similar citizens’ assemblies can have transformative rather than system-reinforcing effects will largely depend on the degree of binding power they are endowed with, and the capacity of social movements to win significant concessions and leverage their positive social outcomes to build counter-hegemonic power.}},
  author       = {{Denz, Robin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{“End of the world, end of the month, same struggle”: On depoliticized transitions and emancipatory sustainability transformations - A case study of The French Citizens’ Convention on Climate}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}